Andrea SinclairVice
Chair MainBrad WhiteVice
Chair AnnexMaggieLancasterMember at LargeAdrienne WangMember
at LargeTara RobensMember
at LargeCathy GolfMember
at LargeJenny Pronovost Member
at LargeMimi WongMember
at LargeAnne-Marie LongMember
at Large (unable to attend on Weds)Rochelle Tucker Member
at Large (unable to attend on Weds)

·introduced himself, feels very welcomed by
Dickens community, is looking forward to his time here. Brian will be at
Dickens throughout January/early February until Anna-Maria’s return to work,
tentatively scheduled for beginning of Feb. AM’s work hours when she does
return will be played by ear, dictated by her health.Brian will remain at Dickens while AM’s
transition back to work is solidified.

Karl (Main)

·Lots of events coming up at Main incl. skating
field trips. Articulation for grade 7’s is up and running, reps from Tupper and
Gladstone (Dickens in-catchment high schools) will be visiting in the coming
week. There are no grade 7’s currently scheduled to go to Gladstone compared to
approx. 10 students last year. The majority are going to Tupper.

·FSA Foundation Skills Assessment test for Grade
4 and 7’s is coming up soon (optional test). Dickens has a strong tradition of
parents opting for non-participation of their kids in this test. Usually 30-40
students participate. Also, the VSB’s Satisfaction survey is coming up soon.
This is an optional, online survey for parents and students.

Lisa (Annex)

·Grateful to have a principal with Brian’s
experience, expertise and stature on board (as was Bob prior).

·All is good at the Annex, students are super
happy to be back after Winter break. Winter Assembly in December was a great
success, very well attended, a ‘magical evening’ for everyone involved. J

·On Jan 16 a ‘Code Red’ drill will be done for
all students at Main and Annex. Code Red = a complete school lockdown in
response to intruder or similar extreme emergency. All students are thoroughly
prepped for the drill by class teachers. The aim is to keep students safe and
calm should such a situation arise.

·Two Main teachers on leave – Georgina King and
Kelly Kent. Both classes have been assigned dedicated sub teachers to keep
continuity. This is in place to avoid a ‘revolving door’ situation of new
teachers/subs for the classes which is detrimental to students.

·Brian will be introducing and focusing Main
students/staff the theme of ‘Belonging’. This is one of the main tenets of
Aboriginal culture (Belonging – Mastery – Independence – Generosity). Brian
will be working with teachers and students to be mindful of this concept and
raise awareness.

4.Treasure’s Update – Kelly

·Review and status report of Financials including
recent update of Toastmasters Club disbursement.

·Holiday Hampers went extremely smoothly - both
organization and budget. Kudos to Tami who manages this project.The project is run entirely on donations -
close to $1800 was raised. 23 Hampers were made. Karl- an additional $600 for the Food Bank was
collected at Main’s Winter Concert.

·Explained the charitable tax receipt process for
Hamper donations. A total of $860 in tax receipts was issued this year ($400
last year). This process is fairly easy to do and beneficial for donors.

·Ania provided info re West Coast Chamber Music’s
production, Peter and the Wolf – a unique music/theatre production for
K-4.The group gave it a thumbs up. Karl
has been in touch with WCCM, will follow up to schedule, May 12 tentative date
(Main & Annex students to attend).

·Karl explained he was surprised to learn that
there was no PAC allocation in place for school shows (combined Main and Annex
attendance). Some context discussion followed.

7. Gaming Fund
Discussion (Idea for Spending) – Kelly

·Discussion re teachers having to place requests
for field trip funds, applications are needed, teachers have been asked to
request funding in advance.

·More discussion re how to best use unallocated
Gaming funds, how to better support teachers field trip funding as well as how
to provide PAC funding for children’s shows.

MOTION 1:

$4567.47 allocated in Gaming funds to be used to pay for
drainage in the playground

$4567.47 playground funds previously allocated to drainage
now allocated to General funds

VOTE: Andrea M 1st/Kerryn 2nd/Passed

MOTION 2:$300 General funds to
be allocated for Peter and Wolf + $430 ($10/student) General funds to be allocated
for Division 9/10 field trip as per teachers application received Jan 08, 2014

VOTE: Kelly 1st/Christy 2nd/ Passed

MOTION 3:$2500 General funds to be allocated for technology (Main).

VOTE: Christy 1st/Kelly 2nd/Passed

8. Holiday Hampers
& Kim Class Donations – Congrats

·A lot of essential support was provided to
families in need. All recipients were extremely grateful for the help. Congrats
to Tami for her expert leadership in this important service.

·Aasia gave overview of speaker options as per the
info. sheet sent to PAC Exec. earlier in the week.Brief discussion about options, group
consensus for Aasia to book speaker Carol Dweck (Growth Mind Sets - Teaching
Grit / Resiliance / Connectedness) and if unavailable then Patti Drobot (Power
of Parenting) for the Jan 29 meeting. Speaker fee budget is $622.50 deemed more
than adequate.

·Kerryn has spoken with Lorraine (Annex
librarian)who will give a brief (approx. 15 min) presentation about the FOSL -
Friends of School Libraries program before the speaker.

11. Basketball Hoops
at Side of Main school (height)

·Follow up to previous Exec. meeting agenda item
and discussion. The current height of the basketball hoops is 11.2 ft (should
be between 8-10ft max). Brian has already looked into this and will investigate
some options for lowering the hoops , including costs.

12. New Business

·Kerryn – suggested offering the babysitting
course for grade 6+7’s on ProD days (David Livingston offers this). Group
supported the idea. Lisa will talk with the Livingston principal about the
process. Karl will speak with Joanne (Main teacher who currently offers this
course).

·Christy - provided some background info re
questions about the Hot Lunch program returning to Main. Needs a certain
percentage of guaranteed participation (minimum 200 students). Deemed not
feasible at this stage.

·Anya – question re new VSB guidelines and course
needed for all volunteers. Brian, Lisa and Karl provided context about this new
requirement.Annex has 80
parents/volunteers who have already taken the course. Main will begin with
Chess Club volunteers (Jan 15 and Jan 27)and will introduce the course in the
near future to all parents.School
admins assured that care will be taken when presenting this new requirement esp
re framing it in a collaborative, positive manner so that parents won’t be
dissuaded/negatively impacted.

·Aasia – parents are expressing increasing
frustration about kids not finishing/eating school lunches. This is the number
one issue that parents talk to her about in her capacity as PAC Exec. member.
Karl assured that the staff (including lunch supervision aids) are all aware of
the need for students to eat lunches and are on top of this, doing the best
they can. Suggestion that Karl mention this awareness in the Dickens newsletter
so parents are aware that staff is responding to their concerns.